10 miles Shop - Crofton Pkwy.

10 mile route to Crofton and back.

Google Maps updates

I realized looking back at some of my old posts that as Google has updated its maps, it has sometimes changed recommendations for the best route between two points. Consequently, some of my routes have changed (for instance, Hamburg Rd. in Frederick Forest was apparently decided too obscure, so some descents of it have been rerouted.)

As a result, if any of my directions include interstates, or U-turns, or anything else that seems out of place, chances are they have been changed by updates. Feel free to email me or post a comment if you are planning on using a route and something seems off.

Civil War Century preview

Back to it! Here is a loop I am planning to ride later this month with several friends who are going to do the Civil War Century for the first time. It previews the two longest climbs in the 100-miler, and has a good high-speed descent along Harp Hill Rd. I definitely recommend trying the century, especially if you have done one or two flat centuries and want something with a bit more scenery (and climbing, and descending, and history...)

Information for the ride is found here: www.civilwarcentury.com.

Google Maps Bicycling Directions

I was ahead of the curve on this one. I've been using Google Maps for bike routes for a while! It seems like most of the bike trails in our area are mapped now, which is great. It even looks like there are marked bike lane routes in the city maps!

100 miles around Anne Arundel County

A century ride that I might be doing later this month. Substitute the B & A Trail for the section along MD-2 through Severna Park.

50 Miles: Thurmont - Greenbrier Loop

A link to an alternate half century loop from Thurmont Community Park. This one goes counterclockwise, and after descending Hamburg Rd, a technical descent of several miles, is fairly flat for the last 12 miles or so back into town. There are refueling points in Smithsburg after about 15 miles and Meyersville after about 28 miles. The route climbs three distinctive mountain passes: up MD-77 at the start, around Greenbrier State Park on Keadle Rd, and over the Gambrill Park ridge on Crow Rock and Highland School Roads. However, all of the other "rolling" roads out here always have a tendency to be more hilly than I remember them.

Here is a 40 mile version that avoids the second mountain ridge for a little less mileage and a lot less climbing. It's probably more fun, to be honest.

54 miles: Thurmont - Catoctin Mountains

This is a route reposted from an earlier entry. I plan on doing this route on a group ride in July. It'll be a good bit of saddle time, and a lot of climbing. I've ridden most of these roads riding with Ernest and Mark, one of our sales reps and a friend (and a great climber). After I ride the whole thing I'll update the post.